Sit quietly and inhale deeply and slowly through your nose. Exhale slowly. Picture yourself near a stream. Birds are softly chirping in the crisp, cool mountain air. Nothing can bother you here. No one knows this secret place. The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with a cascade of serenity. The water is clear. You breathe deeply.

You can easily make out the face of the person whose head you're holding under the water. Look. It's the person who caused you all this stress in the first place. What a pleasant surprise. You let him up ... just for a quick breath ... then ploop! ... back under he goes.

But seriously, folks, breathing and meditation techniques have been proven by researchers to not only ease pain and reduce stress but also build immunity and develop the brain. See the February 28, 2005 issue of Time Magazine and the March 2005 issue of National Geographic Magazine.

Here's something to try at home: Try to focus 5 minutes on just your breathing -- many people can't do this without their minds wandering to lunch, things to do, something said last night, etc. It takes some effort to discipline and control the mind.

At the Stage Management Association we ask applicants for membership to provide us with names of referees. The references often make illuminating reading about the qualities that employers feel are essential in stage management. Recently, one described its subject admiringly as being as cool as a cucumber.

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